Former All-ACC performer Ed Scott takes over as Lakewood's boys basketball head coach

After an All-Atlantic Coast Conference basketball career as a point guard at Clemson and seven years playing professionally overseas, Ed Scott was working with a bank and began delving into coaching the sport with his own AAU program and as an …

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Former All-ACC performer Ed Scott takes over as Lakewood's boys basketball head coach

DENNIS BRUNSON / THE SUMTER ITEM Ed Scott talks to some of his new Lakewood basketball players on Monday after he was named the Gators' new head coach. Scott was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference point guard at Clemson.

After an All-Atlantic Coast Conference basketball career as a point guard at Clemson and seven years playing professionally overseas, Ed Scott was working with a bank and began delving into coaching the sport with his own AAU program and as an assistant on the high school level.

The 38-year-old Scott is about to get his first chance to be a high school head coach, and it will be at Lakewood.

Scott, a standout point guard at Lower Richland High nationally ranked 1999 4A state championship team before going to Clemson, was announced as the Gators' head coach on Monday.

Scott thinks he is walking into a good situation at Lakewood. The position came open when Bryan Brown stepped down after five years at the 4A school to take the job at fellow Sumter School District school Sumter High, a 5A school.

"I think Lakewood is in a very good spot, and it has been building over the years," said Scott, who met with the Lakewood players on Monday. "It is heading in the right direction with good people. Bryan Brown has done a very good job here. He has set the foundation."

Brown was 73-53 in his five years at Lakewood, winning consecutive region titles

before going 10-14 this past season.

Lakewood athletics director Frankie Ward thinks Scott is the right fit for the program.

"He graduated from Lower Richland (which is a Region IV foe for Lakewood), and their situation is a lot like ours," said Ward, who had 15 people apply for the job. "I think with what he did as a player the kids can look at him as someone who can help them do what it takes to advance.

"It's certainly a big deal for us to hire him."

"I just think with my college experience, playing on the professional level, that I can bring that and help the players here," Scott said. "I want to help the players develop even more as players and people. I think this is a good place to build relationships."

Scott has served as an assistant at River Bluff the past two years with this being his first year teaching as well.

"I just decided that teaching and coaching is what I wanted to do," Scott said.

He was an assistant at Richland Northeast for four years and for one year at LR. He was also the founder and coach of the SC Tigers AAU program.

Scott played four years at Clemson from 1999 through 2003. He was a third team All-ACC selection as a junior before earning first-team honors as a senior.

Scott is second in career assists at Clemson with 595 and was third in the country in assists as a junior with an average of 7.9 a contest. He was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2014 and was a member of the ACC Legends Class in 2017.

Scott said his coaching style is to have his teams play fast, but smart.

"I'm an up tempo guy; I like to play fast," he said. "I want them to play the right way, to read and react. I want my players to be able to make decisions on the move. I like good ball movement, having everybody do their jobs."

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